File image.
The Russian military has reputedly captured its first AeroVironment Switchblade 300 loitering munition, made and supplied by the US, from Kiev forces.
On May 26, photos showing the loitering munition, that was captured near an unspecified front in the Donbass region, surfaced online. The munition was slightly damaged, most likely because it crashed as a result of a technical failure, machinegun fire or electronic jamming.
Russian sources said that the loitering munition seen in the photo was only one of several which were recently captured by the Russian military.
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- Click to see full-size image. Via Twitter.
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- Click to see full-size image. Via Twitter.
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- Click to see full-size image. Via Twitter.
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- Click to see full-size image. Via Twitter.
The Switchblade 300 was designed to target personnel and unarmored vehicles. It has a range of 10 kilometers and an endurance of 10 minutes. AeroVironment developed a larger loitering munition, the Switchblade 600, to destroy armored vehicles, like battle tanks. This version has a range of 80 kilometers and an endurance of up to 20 minutes. Both the Switchblade 300 and 600 are equipped with optical guidance systems.
In an initial response to the Russian special military operation in Ukraine, the US pledged to supply Kiev forces with more than 100 Switchblade 300 and 600 systems.
The first documented use of the Switchblade by Kiev forces was on May 6, when one such munition failed to hit its target and crashed in an empty field in an unspecified part of Donbass.
So far, Switchblade 300 loitering munitions had no real impact on the battle in Donbass. The larger and more capable Switchblade 600 is yet to be spotted with Kiev forces.
It’s worth noting that the US recently pledged to arm Kiev forces with an even larger loitering munition dubbed the Phoenix Ghost. The previously-unknown system was developed by Aevex Aerospace. It is equipped with a night-capable optical guidance system and has an endurance of up to six hours. Kiev forces will receive at least 121 loitering munition of this type.
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Slava Rossia ru ru ru
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look at that new American tech now in the hands of the Russians soon to be sent for replication in china.
please tell me pro-Ukraine people. How could the AFU who you claim are winning would even let the Russians get a hold of such a modern piece of US weaponry. So, there is no chance that they could have found that was not active. They also could not have hacked while it was in flight, as you told me they have EW equipment and operators that was far inferior to even the most vulnerable USA equipment.
They could sell anything, it’s usual practice. It could crushed without detonation as happened with english “Brimstone”. Captured warehouse. Here is video of buying APC and NLAW (for rubles!) somewhere in last month. Real or not — don’t know, but it could happen for sure, though usually nobody films such kind of business. youtube.com/watch?v=3r3Ro3SFmrs
RE: youtube.com/watch?v=3r3Ro3SFmrs
Russian forces buying Russian made equipment from ukies?? Seems a bit weird
15 thousand dollars for APC-80 and 100 thousand rubles for NLAW. Agree with you, it looks strange. The buyer is russian of course, but from LDPR. There were many rumors and jokes since 2014 telling how warehouse guards sells everything to the republics.
There is nothing strange here, this is ordinary corruption.
There’s literally no need for it as Russia’s loitering drones actually do work. 9 ukrop infantry dead with a single drone strike here: https://t.me/vladlentatarsky/13866
Please return these to the White House.
Funny how American tech is so crappy it falls out of the skies without enemy interference. This is typical western MIC modus operandi. Develop extortionately high priced equipment that needs constant upgrades and fix-ups to keep the US taxpayer money rolling in.
Half were sold on the black market, which the world will suffer from for years to come. The other half will have 0 effect on the Russian advance and also provide the Russians with valuable examples to dissect.
The distribution of all this weaponry around the world is truly a nightmare. So irresponsible, but it will blow black on these NATO fools. Imagine how entire shipments of high tech lethal hardware are likely being diverted into Banderite hands for sale to highest bidder. This isn’t just a bunch of AK 47’s. Narcotics organizations will be stockpiling this stuff. Once it crosses that Ukraine border all supervision is lost.
If each howitzer given to Ukraine is from a different nation, I’d figure that each would require individual training, since each country’s weapon will have different operating systems and idiosyncrasies that will require getting used to. I see only confusion in that situation.
You can’t stockpile for long time, every piece has it’s own service time. The more complicated weapon is, the less time and harder maintenance you have. You can hold AK (by the way, there is no AK-47, it’s just AK, next version is AKM, AK-74 and so on) in bad conditions for decades, it’s true, but not NLAW or “Stinger”. Western pimps sent quite old stuff on the edge of guaranty term that works 1 time from 2. Hold it for 10-15 years more and just 1 of 10 will be working. Though some of these toys will leak to wrong hands for sure.
Thanks for clarification on the rifle
Excuse me for some mistakes in my english text like “it’s own”.
You can replace Batteries and Refrigerant on the Russian MANPADS and the Stingers too. In others, the Integrated Circuit Boards need testing and replacing. Some Ammo also requires Nitrogen Atmosphere Storage like PRG rockets. I guess the Ukros didn’t get an of that.
True. Military can replace expired details, but not a mafia due to lack of details and experience to do it. And you’re right again, ukros didn’t do it also, because have no spare parts as i guess.
The Switchblade 300 was introduced in 2011 and is “old school ” technology . Its a rebrand as a more up to date =Switchblade 600 was introduced so its anything BUT cutting edge –shows you the USA is supplying Ukraine with out of date technology.
Would be kind of stupid to give your best weapons in such a war. Both NATO and Russia are saving their best for WW3.
10 years is small term for military stuff. Main battle tanks in many modern armies is modernization of 1970’s tanks. MBT-70 and T-72 research programs. Look at B-52, first flight in 1952. Fighters a bit newer, but is modernization of 1980’s planes, except 5th generation. Military is very conservative, all armies still use 7,62mm rounds invented in 19th century.
This City of London-Wall Street-Brussells war, a 21st century version of oligarchic war, has failed to “contain” or bring Russia to her knees. It should be obvious to any thinking rational human being that the writing is on the wall. Now pay attention as these same bankrupt powers turn their obscene minds to do the same to China. That will fail also if it even gets off the ground. It’s time for a new system predicated on the sacredness of human life and it’s creative potential for beauty.
These things have already been caught in numbers in Syria. You just lay a white sheet and they fall on it like ants
Poor male Ukranians, soon there won’t be any left.
It doesn’t look like a high-quality product. Very typical of American armaments aimed at export.
Ukraine doesn’t need switchblades. They need bandages, food and medical aid!
The USAian tax payer must be feeling real good rite about naow amirite?
More guns, less butter.
Its kinda cool seeing the tech my tax dollars helped buy being handed to nazis for free in order to live out the war hawk fantasies of a bunch of cold war relics who view human life as obstacles to their continued profit
Oh wait did I say cool
I meant embarrassing and infuriating
The Russian about to reverse engineer it and use it against it adversaries.